Crossword Genius

In certain ways there's a need to relax (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

slacken

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'relax' is the definition.
(I know that relax can be written as slacken)

'in certain ways there's a need' is the wordplay.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'certain ways' becomes 'sen' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'there's a need' becomes 'lack' (to lack something is to be in need of it).
'sen' placed around 'lack' is 'SLACKEN'.

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for slacken that I've seen before include "reduce tension" , "Loosen -- become less busy" , "Loosen, eg, a rope" , "Make looser" , "relax" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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